Tandem draft-rigging.



G. Q.- LEWIS. TANDEM DRAFT RIGGING. p y A'PPLICATION FILED M AY24.1916. mmm

G. Q.'LEW|S. TANDEM DRAFT BI-GGING.

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` APPLICATION ED MAY 24, 1916. 1,251,061. Pamd m 2mm 2 EEEE TS.- EEEEE 2.

WITNESS INVENTOR.

UNITED STATES VPATENT OFFICE.

GOODRICH Q. LEWIS, OF W'HEATON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB, TO WILLIAM H. MINER, OF CHAZY, NEV YORK.

TANDEIVI DRAFT-RIGGING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 25, 1917.

Application filed May 24, 1916. Serial No. 99,485.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Goonnrorr Q. Lnwrs, a citizen of the United States, residing at IVheaton. in the count-y of Dupage and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Tandem Draft-Rigging. of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tandem draft rigging.

One object of the invention is to provide a tandem draft rigging of high capacity wherein the yoke is arranged horizontally7 and shock absorbing units readily insertible and removable from below without removing the draw bar.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tandem draft gear wherein the yoke is arranged horizontally and having the parts so constructed as to relieve the yoke of a large part of the compression strains in buff.

The invention furthermore consists in improvements in the parts and devices and in the novel combinations of the parts and devices herein shown, described and forming the subject matter of claims.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a draft rigging embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1 and taken on the line 2 2 thereof. Fig. 3 is avert-ical sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. And Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views of the front and front intermediate followers, respectively. In said drawing, 10-10 denote the center sills or draft members which are or may be of channel form and have secured thereto along the bottom edges, angle irons 11-11 to thereby increase the height of the sill and form suitable backing for the tandem side castings 12-12 which are riveted thereto. Each of said castings 12 is provided with upper and lower front stops 13-13, upper and lower intermediate stops 14-14, and upper and lower rear stops 1515. Between the upper and lower sets of stops, each casting is provided with a channel or groove 16 extending longitudinally of the casting and within which reciprocates the arms of the horizontal yoke 17. The yoke 17 has the arms thereof slotted at their forward ends to receive a coupler key 18 by which the yoke is connected to the draw bar 19. The draft members and castings are suitably slotted as indicated at 20 to permit forward and rearward movement of the coupler key. Substantially at their centers, the arms of the yoke 17 are provided with inwardly extended, substantially rectangular shoulders or lugs 21-21 corresponding to the length of the intermediate stops 14 and the distance between the intermediate followers of the gear. Between the front and intermediate stops, is provided a front shock absorbing unit comprising a front follower 22, front intermediate follower 23, and vertical twin arranged springs 24. The front follower 22 is shown more in detail in Fig. 4 and, as there shown, is provided with a rearwardly extending column 25 concave on its upper and lower surfaces to form seats for the twin springs. The follower `23 is recessed at its center as indicated at 26 to thereby permit the rear end of the column 25 to reciprocate therethrough. The rear shock absorbing unit comprises a rear intermediate follower 27 rear follower 28, and vertical twin arranged springs 24 the latter being separated by a combined spring spacer and limiting block 29. The shock absorbing units are held in place by detachable saddle plates 30-30 bolted to the flanges of the draft members as clearly indicated in Fig. 3.

In uff, the draw bar will push the front follower 22 rearwardly thus compressing the front set of springs against the follower 23 which is held stationary by the intermediate stops 14. Simultaneously therewith, the yoke 17 will be pushed rearwardly and the shoulders 21 thereon will actuate the follower 27. The front follower 22 will move rearwardly in unison with the yoke and the column 25 on said follower is extended so as to engage the rear intermediate follower 27 Thus the yoke and the column 25 will work in unison to actuate the follower 27, thereby relieving the arms of the yoke of a large part of the compression strains under buff. In this connection, it will also be noted that the arms of the yoke will be effectively' prevented from buckling outwardly since they are confined within the channels 16. By referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the column is provided with shoulders 31-31 which are adapted to engage the follower 23 and thus limit the compression of the springs.

The shock absorbing units may be inserted and removed from below with the yoke and draw bar in place, it being apparent that the column 25 will pass between the lower set of intermediate stops 1li and also between the lugs 21-21 on the yoke arms.

I claim:

1. In a tandem draft rigging, the combination with tandem side castings, of a horizontal yoke, tandem arranged shock absorbing units, the front unit including ay front follower having a rearwardly extending column arranged to engage and actuate the rear intermediate follower under bu, said column extending through the front intermediate follower and having shoulders arranged to engage the latter to thereby limit the compression of the springs.

2. In a tandem draft rigging, the combination with tandem side castings having horizontally extending guideways, of a horizontal tandem yoke slidable within said guideways, the arms of said yoke being provided with inwardly extended spaced shoulders near the center thereof, a front shock absorbing unit including a front follower and a front intermediate follower, and a rear shock absorbing unit including a rear intermediate follower, said front follower having a column extending through the front intermediate follower and normally engaging the rear intermediate follower, whereby said rear intermediate follower is actuated both by the 'shoulders of said yoke and said column under buff and the front shock absorbing unit with said column is insertible from below while the yoke is in position.

3. In a tandem draft rigging, the combination with draft members, upper and lower front, intermediate and rear stops secured thereto, the lower intermediate stops being spaced laterally from each other, of a horizontal yoke, a front follower, a front intermediate follower, springs between said followers, a rear intermediate follower, a rear follower, springs between said two last named followers, the front follower having an integral column extending through a slot in the front intermediate follower and normally engaging the rear intermediate follower, the front follower, the front intermediate follower and the spring therebetween being insertible as a unit from below, the rear portion of the column passing between said lower spaced intermediate stops.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 12th day of May 1916.

GOODRICH Q. LEWIS.

copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, b'y addressing th 'Coinxissiner of Pttl. Washington, D. 0. 

